Tire loosening tool



K. L. NORTHRUP ETAL' 2,520,330

Aug. 29, 1950 TIRE LOOSENING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1947 JNVENTORS.

Aug. 29, 1950 K. L. NORTHRUP ET AL TIRE LOOSENING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 1. 1947 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 r W atzosso A TIREuLOO SENING TOOL q o'FjFicE 7 Keith L, null-thing and wh n. Hedfield,

iuaai somwis.

ApplicationA prilL 1947, Serial No.738,628

ism-4.17 I

Thepresent inventionrelatesito iignprc vernents .against which the outerside of the bead of a tire abuts, the removal of the tirehas been somewhat facilitated. But particularly because of the much longer wear of tires today than inthe past, some-' times a year or more elapses before it is' neces= sary to remove a tire from the rim. This is particularly true asnowadaysmost cars are equipped withan extra wheel or at least an extra rim; so thattheentire rimor wheel can be changed in caseofa blowout or flatn i i Car operators usually wait 1mm they canget to a garage to have the tires fixed. This is usually accomplished with the rim or wheeliemoved from thelcar and with the wheel or rim andthe tire thereon lying in a horizontal position. The usual procedure adopted bythe ordinarygarage mechanic is to insert some kind of a tire tool between the flange andthebead'offa tire and then inanii any toipultand pry ithy means of sucna tool. Inasmuch as thebead of the tireisusually ad hered to or stuck tothebase of the rim, this operation very seldom sufiices to loosenthe tire from the rim, and his the customary practice to pound upon the side of thetire withaheavy mallet or sledge in anattempt to ldosenthe head from the rim, Inasmuch asthefbead litself is protected by the fiangeorlthe thefblows al; most always are directed against theQrelatively more vulnerable sides of the tire, much to their detriment, and many mew-outs have een; traced to injury which has been done to a tire by this injurious pounding uponthe sidewalls thereby breaking the fabric andnltimately ruining the tire. a Many rather ingenious devices have been con structed in the form of complicatedflmachines which attempt to accomplish the rapid removal of the tire from therimbut mostof these are v w be m can b h car i d a out e d certainly are of a type which does not lend itself to carrying ii -a car. a v i i In contrast with prior art devices, the tool of U H v nve en iiv n m fi d PQ WN an ay' eed y ea ied th ater m nt; Of a? per 1,0 1,; m be 334 6: 1 Q1 t w a garage tor repair shop. In dts preferred embodi ltii? de s n utilizat o M es re which-is almost always ava ilable in a garage o r reaten-a5 h aeflfior nfla in he inner. tube of the tire after the repairsflhave been made. i Aceordinglyit onepi the objects of the pres- 1 :iQ W QF c qwp fq fi Q :t m s i t l w ich p qvi es itwita erbe d lp en g :ba s wi er be n t l dr a nm he pa etw n th a and t an 10 h rim wlier atte m d a ed art e lttqai m r laterally to forcefthebead ironti the ri m. m i j iurther object is to provide EiO O LCO IItai IIiDg bars or fingers which nerve, respectively; yto bear against the inner side of a; tire rim and the head of a tire so that the rim and; bead may readily beg for ced apart, and the time thus loosened to per-l ii f. vwm le sse a qm t e m--= t;

t QAqiur ther object is to provide a hand tool for en n i mm r ms i wh h a part the operation 1s effected by compressed air.

-:;'Q e i s-ci-tha nyenti wil eco a parent frorn the further descriptionto follow. The improvedtire tool of the present invention om r se nee o d with t e oe -n p n fingers which insertable-between the bead and he 5 q: mafia edeeming i i nibe th utersl f -ce itmth se:o t i t e em Mien 9 h c em ingrme nb l rawins the n ers lear dowritot h b s t ne r m, 1 f We e ssris mo b e rel tiv t st o w t e a e b alpu hed b ean oi en on a ina aoc u i iga ire q aw y Imm the flange of the rini and hence: against thebead 9 the t terus pu inecit t l ay ro fi ial-1m e de one e ne a w l e ase of erim, therebytloosening ittherefrom 1 of the present n ention shown in a Wide nipp i qnr eady fqr use;

Ql figI 2 is ,a perspective view a showing he =pre f erred embodiment of th esent. invention the position it will assume when clamped on the rim pi a tire and; when the latter has been pried 3 Fig. 3, on a somewhat enlarged scale, is a bottom plan view of the tire loosening tool, showing the bead-loosenin fingers;

Fig. 4, on the same scale as Fig. 3, is a side-elevational view of the fingers when in their separated, tire-pushing position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the preferred form of the tool, showing the initial position of its method oiuse'; N a

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing th next position assumed by the tool when in use;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the final position assumed by the tool when in use;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of. a modified.

form of the tool, in the second'positio'n when in use;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig.3, wlth'thetool shown in the final position;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view of a further modified form of the tool, in the second position when in use; and

v Fig. 11 shows the same tool as that shown in Fig. 10'. but inthe final position.

All'forms' ofthe invention have certain elements in common, namely the means forinitially forcing the fingers between the flange of the rimand the bead of the tire, and means-forpushingcured to the base plate by meanssuch as welding; V

or they may be forged from a single piece of metal as part of said plate. Secured'to the other side of the base plate I2 there isa vertically extending flange I5 which serves to" support the pushing mechanism; broadly designated on all pertinent figures by the reference numeral I3. This pushing mechanism is essentially a hydraulic cylinder as shown in the modifications illustratedin Figs. l; 2, 5, 6 and '7, but is a mechanical device as shown in Figs; 8, 9, II and .11.

Referring now to'th'e preferred form of the present invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 through '7, there may be secured-totne-ba'se plate -I2, a pneumatic cylinder IT containing a'piston I8 which is securedto the operating or thrusting stem I9 of the intermediate movable grippingfinger 20. The stem I9 passes through a suitable guide and stop 2| located'with'in-the-cylinder I1 and also through a "suitable opening 22 in the base plate I2. The piston I8 is securedto the stem I9 by being-threaded thereinto at 23". The stem I9 is also provided with a laterally extending guide slot 24, a pin extending through thestop2| into the guide slot 24.

A suitable conical helical spring 26 surrounds the stem I9 and bears with its upper e'nd'ag'ainst the under side of the piston I8 andwith its other end against the bottom of the cylinder H, the

lowermost convolution surrounding the stop 2|.

The piston is provided with a flahgedclosuremember 21 which is threaded at 2 80i! to the upper end of the externally threaded cylinder H. In this end member 21 there is inserted; through 'a-suitablethreadedopening 29; a nipple 30 which serves for the attachment to an air hose 3| as seen in Fig. 7. v

" The gripping fingers, I3, I4 and" 20 are preferably flat on the bottom; but their upper's'ides are 4 backwardly slanted at about a 20 degree angle, as best seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 4. Moreover, the movable finger 20 is slightly shorter than the fingers I3 and I4, the reason for which will become apparent from a further description of the tool and its manner of use.

A clamping member 32 is pivotally connected to the vertical flange I5, being provided at the end intended to contact the rim with a resilient pad orgrip 3, which may be made of rubber.

Also secured to the clamping member 32 is the operating handle 34. The clamping member 32 passes between the bifurcated ends 35 and 36 of the base plate I2, as may best be seen on the perspeotive view shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A stop 31, extending through a portion of the clamping member, is of 'sufficient length to bridge the bifurcated ends 35 and 36 of the base-plate I2 so as to limit the extent .to which the clamping member may swing on as pivot 3 I. Therefore the force exerted upon the handle 34will be transferred. to the entire base-plate. The value of this will be explained in connection with the operation of the tire tool. 7

In using the tool (irrespective of the particu (this is true of all modifications) so that the. gripping fingers 20-, I3 and I4 will lie with their hottom-against the sidewall of the tire 4D, immediately above the bead 4| thereof.

By'moving the operating handle 34 downward- 1y, thus swinging the clamping member 32 about its: pivot 3|, the rubber pad 33 will be brought into contact with the outer portion 42 of the. tire [rim 43, whereupon by further pushing downwardly against the handle-34,.thefingers I3, 20 and I4 will be forced between the flange 44 of th rim 43 and the. bead 4| of the tire so that the tool will assume the position illustrated in Figs. 6, 8 and 10. At that time the three fingers I3, 20 and I4 willwbe', so faras their undersides are concerned,

inthe same plane, all of them abutting againstthe bead 4| of the tire. The two stationary fingers I3 and I4 aswell as the movable finger ZII wi'l'lthusabut against the flange 44- with their sloping suriaces The. force exertedby the ban dle 34 will thus also be imparted to the supporting member or base plate |2,,so that the same will bear w'ith considerable force against the outer edgeof the flange 44 along the line45, while the pad 33 will bear against the outside of the bottom of the rim at 46. Thisiwi'll oifset any tendency for the tool to move out of engagement with the rim, and will hold the, ends of the fingers I3 and I4 tightly against the inner bottom of the rim, sub stahtia lly opposite the Dad'33. yrne rim is thus tightly gripped between tnnpad'ssanu the ends of fingers I3 and I4; Finger" 2a, however, is some what shorter than the'other two and hence will not abut against the bottom of "rim'l3' at 42, and hence will of'the tire 4 Y If the stem I9'i's now moved relative to the base plate f2, it will move downwardly'ag'ain'st the bead 4| of the tire, eventually assuming the position shown'in Figs. 2-, '7, 9'and 11.

Specifically referring to" the pneumatic' 'form of the tool, which is the preferred type as illustrated in Figs. 1 through '7, and assuming the tool tobe in the position illustrated in Fig. 6, the air hose 3 is applied to the nipple 3|) thereby forcing, air

under pressure into the "cylinder II, as a result of which the piston I8 will move downwardly, there e free to move'against the head 41" a range so:

by. compressingthe springtfi. 1 At theisameltime the thrusting member or stem 19 willmov'eldowne wardlycarrying with itl the finger- 211,whichl thus forcesth ibead 4| 'awayirom the flange. 4.4 or the rim :43. This? thirdor final position relative to 5 the pneumatic .formofithe tool is shown in Fig. 7: It will thus be seen that the force exertedby the finger and the fingers l 3 and willbe against thewbead 4!. on the \onchand and against-the fiangetfllt on the other, "so that there willabe no tendency. for .the tool to slipodt of position even though considerable pressure beflapplied; More: over, the pressure is not againstlthe-side wallof thetirebut against the heavily reinforcedbead, which-husuallyalso contains therein imbeddedcl 15 wires and other reinforcing means so that there; is no l danger of finjuring the tire :in any way b thus exerting the force. Ithas been found in'ac. tual practice'that about 1500 poundsis necessaryu to 'fo'rce a the from a rimwhen the same has been zo onion-about a year, and-has beenmor e or less cemented thereon, this being particularly true of i the so-called safety-rims. now widely in use. 1

After the tire hasthus been .loo'sened; the air s pressure is released, whereby, under the infiuence 5 of thespring 26, the piston-will resume the position-shown in Figsandfipwhereaiter by lifting the handle the toolcan be completely disengaged from the rim and tire and moved to a new; pesitionwhen the series of operations hereinabove described will be repeatedasmany times, as may be, necessary completely-toloosen the tire from the rim. When tires have been on the rim for a long time, it may benecessarytoppe crate also on the opposite side: of the rim and tir which manner of op'er-ation'will offcourse be nnmediately obvious from; the description here nabove.

"Referring now more specifically to the gr ps ed forms of the 'invention, one method fof co nsru t ing thetool cbmpr-ises theuse of alrack and icnffor advancing the finger zc his coin I tion is illustrated. in Figs. 8 and9v' In this anodi fication the air cylinder ll is omitted and there is secured to the upstanding flange L5,, whichis n" attachedto the base-plate 12, a 'therefromverti cally extending guide through which slides the stem I9, which, in place of the guide slot 24 shown in the previously described modification,

now carries a rack 5!, the teeth of which are en- 50 gaged by the pinion 52 which is pivoted by means of a pin 53 to the oppositely extending continuation of the flange I5. A suitable operating handle 53 is keyed to the gear 52 so that it may be rotated about its pivot 53 about 180. With the tool in the second position, as shown in Fig. 8, and with the pinion 52 in engagement with the rack 5| with the gripping finger 20 in its retracted position, the handle 54 is swung about 180 so that it will be brought into the position shown in Fig. 9, as a result of which movement of the pinion 52 the stem l9 will be moved into the position shown in said figure, thereby pushing the bead of the tire away from the rim in exactly the same manner as has previously been described in connection with the other figures, the only difierence being that in the present modification mechanical force is used instead of air pressure.

In the third modification, illustrated by Figs. 10 and 11, a screw is used to accomplish the movement of the finger 20, which for that purpose is made internally hollow, being internally threaded at (see Fig. 11). The flange l5 carries a suitable supporting member Bl at a point car. or truck,

tion, depending upomwhether it is .aright or left,

handed thread, the; stem I 9. will he forced :dOWllr. wardlysothat thefinger Zll will be forcedagainst;

the bead H of the tire 40in exactly the same mannenas hasbeen already fully described, the onlmsdiiferencebeing .in this .case that; the me.

chanical advantage of a screw is employed in-.

stead of .the rack; and pinion construction of .IFigS.

381131161351, or? the preferred: pneumatic cylinder; I 1

and -coopera t in'g piston, l8 and other parts as illustrated' in Figs. 1 through 7.

c'lhe. entire tool is quite compact and can readily, be carried ,in, the trunk or tool box of a motor. and. thus will be, available when needed.

For occasions whenlit'is contemplated that tire, repair-smay have-to be effected away from a garage: provided with compressed air brother working fluid, .the mechanical modifications shown in Figs-.8 through 11 maypro'vemore suitable, althoughafor-most purposes, and parw ticularly for use in garages, the pneumatically operated device. shown in Figs. 1 through '7, preferred. :It will of course becbvious that hy-., draulic fiuid under pressure suchas water or oil" may beused insteadaof air pressure to forcethe piste-n18 downagainst the spring 26 in the cy-lindent H. The I cylinder. l 1- is preferably secured to the base plate [2; for example, by meansof screws 10 and 11 (Figs 1 and 2 and the cylinder Hjmay beattached to the flange l5-by acurvedr fiange l Z- secured to the cylinder H by screws 13 and-14, and two corresponding screws in the opposite side of the flange I 5, which are invisible. inthedrawi'ngs.

It will also be obvious that welding or" other means *of atta'ching the various partsmay be resorted to. Thus purely for purposes of example, the resilient pad 33 is shown being housed in the inwardly bent channel 15 which latter is secured to the clamping member 32 by a plurality of screws 76 and TI, (shown only in Figs. 1 and 2), but here again there is considerable choice in the manner of construction, and any other convenient method of assembling the tool is to be construed as within the scope and purport of the present invention.

The exact shape and orientation of the various parts is of course open to considerable modifications, and any mechanical equivalents which will readily occur to those skilled in the art into which this invention falls are to be construed as within the scope thereof.

The device may be constructed of iron or steel or preferably of some of the light-weight metals such as aluminum or magnesium or their various alloys.

Applicants claim:

1. A tire-loosening tool comprising a substantially fiat base-plate, two spaced tire-loosening fingers afiixed to one side thereof, a pneumatic cylinder and piston secured to the other side of said base plate and a thrust-member secured to said piston and slidable through an opening in 7. said base-plate to the first-mentioned side into position between said fingers, a tire-loosening finger of substantially the same shape as the firstmentioned fingers but slightly shorter aflixed to said thrust-member; means pivotally supported on said base plate for drawing all of said fingers into position between the flange of a tire-rim and a tire mounted thereon, said pivotally supported means carrying a clamping head having a resilient contacting surface adapted frictionally to engage the outer surface of the bottom of the rim when said fingers are in position between the bead and the flange, an operating handle on said pivotally mounted means, and stop means on said last mentioned means to limit the movement of said operating handle to permit forcing-the baseplate tightly against the inner edge of the flange or the rim.

. 2. A tire-loosening tool comprising a substantiallyfiat base-plate, rigid tire-loosening fingers secured to one side thereof, at least one movable tire-loosening finger intermediate said rigid fingers and operable by thrusting means through an opening in said base plate from the opposite side of the latter; a flange secured to said base plate and extending normal thereto, said flange supporting the thrusting means for operating said movable finger; an operating lever pivoted on said flange and carrying a resilient abutment member adapted to contact the outer bottom side of a tire rim whereby to draw said base plate in a direction normal to said bottom to force all of said fingers between the inner side of the tire rim and the bead of a tire mounted thereon, the abutment member being so disposed as to abut the bottom of the rim at a point below the point of abutment of said fingers so as to dispose the thrusting means so as to operate in a position parallel to the bottom of the rim; and means for operating said thrusting means.

3. The tool as claimed in claim 2 in'which the thrusting means are pneumatically operated and comprise a cylinder, a piston, and means for admitting compressed gaseous fluid into said cylinder to actuate said piston.

4. The tool as claimed in claim 2 in which the thrusting means comprises a rack on the thrusting means and a pinion meshed therewith mounted on said flange, and an operating lever for rotating said pinion. 5. The tool as claimed in claim 2 in which th thrusting means comprises an internal thread in said thrusting means and a. therewith cooperating screw supported on said flange.

6.:A tire-loosening tool comprising a substantially flat base plate, two spaced apart immovable fingers secured to the underside of said base plate, a downwardly movable finger positioned intermediate said fingers, means secured to the.

upper side of said base plate to move said movable finger in a direction at a right angle to said base plate, means pivoted to said base plate for drawing the fingers between a tire-rim and the head of a tire mounted thereon, said means com- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date- 1,059,128 Edwards Apr. 15, 1913 1,507,208 Schlenker Sept. 2, 1924 1,519,558 Snider Dec. 16, 1924 1,806,947 Mjelva May 26, 1931 1,983,608 Hand Dec. 11, 1934 2,281,476 Casey Apr. 28, 1942 2,350,034 Herrington May 30, 1944 1 2,367,638 McCulloch Jan. 16, 1945 2,402,022 Corbell June 11, 1946 OTHER REFERENCES Popular Mechanics Magazine, June 1941, page 

